Artesanías Wankavilkas / Wankavilka Artisans

About this Project

This initiative will empower vulnerable groups, including women, people with disabilities, and LGBTI+ individuals, who are from the rural coastal communities of the Wankavilka indigenous group. The project will provide training in crafting sustainable, creative products such as hats and bags from banana fiber (zapan), a locally abundant and eco-friendly material. Through hands-on workshops, participants will learn ancestral artisanal techniques, fostering environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and social cohesion. The majority of the grant will fund essential workshop materials and supplies. By engaging historically marginalized groups in valued creative processes, the project will promote social inclusion, reduce stigma, and enhance respect for diversity while creating new income opportunities through a circular, sustainable economy. Participants will gain the skills to launch individual or collective ventures, increasing financial autonomy and reducing economic dependency. Additionally, the initiative will revive local knowledge and strengthen community identity through the creative and responsible use of natural resources, building a more empowered, equitable, and resilient community where vulnerable individuals are protagonists of transformative change.